The World Cup season 2025 is slowly nearing its end. Only three race weekends are in the calendar before the big final in the USA. Women will travel to Norway this weekend, while men will go to the Carinthian Alps to conquer the traditional Kranjska Gora slope.
- Related post: Preview: The Golden Fox Competition in Kranjska Gora
Speed Races in Kvitfjell
Kvitfjell is a Norwegian speed specialists’ paradise that has been a firm part of the World Cup schedule for a long time. This venue was built in 1994 as a slope for the Winter Olympic Games, designed by the Swiss alpine skiing champion Bernhard Russi. Races in Kvitfjell occur late in the calendar because the Norwegians excel in artificial snow production. Also, the Northern location helps the organizers prepare excellent conditions even in March.
Last season, both men and women raced here, although the women’s downhill race had to be canceled due to bad weather. Two super-G races occurred; Lara Gut-Behrami (SUI) won the first and took silver in the second. Federica Brignone (ITA) won the second super-G. The last women’s downhill race in Kvitfjell happened in the 2023 season, and Kajsa Vickhoff Lie (NOR) won by a significant margin. As Kajsa is in great form this year, she might want to repeat her victory in front of the home crowd. She will have two chances to do so, as there will be two downhill races (Friday and Saturday) and one super-G.
The downhill champion Breezy Johnson and her teammate Lauren Macuga in super-G are among the favorites. Sofia Goggia (ITA) showed great form last weekend in the giant slalom races, so perhaps this will finally be her day after the unsuccessful World Championships. However, the Austrians Stephanie Venier and Mirjam Puchner also want to confirm their medal results, and so would Federica Brignone, who seems to be unstoppable in any competition but slalom.
Technical Races in Kranjska Gora
The traditional men’s competition in Slovenian Kranjska Gora occurs on the Podkoren slope and is called the Vitranc Cup (Pokal Vitranc in Slovenian). The giant slalom with the maximum inclination of 59% belongs to the most challenging slopes in the World Cup calendar. Usually, two giant slaloms occur on this venue, and the last time men’s slalom specialists raced here was in the 2021 season, and Clement Noel (FRA) was the winner.
- Related post: Preview: The Golden Fox Competition in Kranjska Gora
This year’s slalom competition is chaotic and predictions rarely come true, but Loic Meillard (SUI) could use his consistency to perform well here. The same goes for Timon Haugan, whose Norwegian buddy Atle Lie McGrath is a little inconsistent this season and would love a breakthrough. Then there is Linus Strasser (GER), who’s form is fantastic this year.
The giant slalom competition was canceled last year, and Marco Odermatt (SUI) won both races in the 2023 season. However, he was only third in the 2022 season, with Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR) winning both days.
Will we witness Henrik’s comeback to the top spot? We might, as Kristoffersen is known to relish demanding and challenging slopes.
Marco Odermatt, on the other hand, seems a little overloaded with the constant switching of giant slalom and downhill skis. He said so himself, and his results are starting to show just that. However, Kranjska Gora is where he got his first podium back in 2019, so he must love this place.
As for the other favorites, Loic Meillard is in the form of his life and would love to continue proving just that. Maybe Thomas Tumler would use the Swiss winning streak to bring the Vitranc Cup home. Apart from the Swiss, Raphael Haaser (AUT) was excellent in the super-G last weekend and would love to repeat his stealing the Swiss medals from the World Championships. This steep slope could also match Luca Di Aliprandini’s (ITA) crazy style.
So, let us follow the ladies North and the men South to kick off the last month of this World Cup season.
